Review of The Karate Kid (1984) by Johnny T — 03 Apr 2011

An exciting, sweet-tempered, heart-warming story with one of the most interesting friendships in a long time. The climax is extremely uplifting and unless you're horribly unemotional, you'll smile everytime. Utterly predictable and wholly of its time, but warm, sincere, and difficult to resist, due in large part to Pat Morita and Ralph Macchio's relaxed chemistry. Perhaps a touch on the corny side and undeniably broad, Kid is a ridiculously rewarding drama that puts pure sincerity to marvelous use, inflating a mild underdog story into an inspiring tale of education and developing friendship. This film's art consists entirely of hiding the cynicism of its calculations under an agreeably modest and disarming manner.

VERDICT: "Full Price" - Second highest rating in the system (Positive to Mixed reaction). This is a rating to a movie I view as very entertaining and well made, and definitely worth paying the full price at a theater to see or own on DVD. It is not perfect, but it is definitely excellent.